Give back our dorms
Jagannath University students yesterday formed a human chain to press home a decade-old demand of reclaiming their dormitories from illegal occupants.
Some 12 dormitories of the university are currently occupied by different groups, the students alleged, including influential figures such as local lawmaker Haji Salim.
"Tibet Hall is currently occupied by Haji Salim, and a large shopping mall called Gulshanara City has been built in its place," said Mahmud Hasan Mishu, joint secretary of Chatra Odhikar Parishad and a student of the university.
"Our seniors have seen the sign of Tibet Hall hanging on that spot till 2011," alleged Mishu.
"University authorities tell us that they do not have the paperwork needed to reclaim the dormitories, but we know that they can challenge the occupation of at least six dormitories," said Tausif Mahmud, a protester and physics undergraduate student at the university.
This newspaper has previously reported that in 2007, JnU hired an audit firm to locate its properties. The firm, Masih Muhith Haque & Co Consortium, suggested in its report that the university should initiate moves to reclaim possession of six dormitories -- Shaheed Anwar Shafique Hall, Shaheed Azmal Hossain Hall, Bani Bhaban, Shaheed Shahab Uddin Hall, Tibet Hall and Abdur Rahman Hall.
This newspaper has also reported that the property on which Tibet Hall used to be, is a vested property.
"We think university authorities are not trying to reclaim Tibet Hall because they are being strong-armed by powerful factions," alleged Mishu.
Two of the occupied halls, Abdur Rahman hall and Bani Bhaban can be classified as antiquities, both being over a hundred years old.
Students of JnU had previously demonstrated for this demand in 2016 and 2014. In 2014, students demonstrating in front of Tibet Hall were beaten up by local goons, resulting in at least 50 injuries.
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